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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW House GOP votes to make Paul Ryan next speaker ... Fill up on Growler Guys ... Sheriff Falls pulls plug on Shady Cove video security system ... House GOP votes to make Paul Ryan next speaker ... Fill up on Growler Guys ... Sheriff Falls pulls plug on Shady Cove video security system ... SAILING ADVENTURE Medford radiologist and son will participate in first regatta to Havana since 1959 Father and son will participate in first regatta to Havana since 1959 Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 28, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 28, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News A St. Mary's School freshman and his father will take to the open ocean on Halloween for a boat race that finishes in Cuba. Ethan McAnally, 14, and his father, James, a radiologist at the Medford Radiological Group, will join 22 other boats in the 511-nautical-mile race — just a shade over 580 landlubber miles — from Pensacola, Fla., across the Gulf of Mexico to Havana. The Pensacola a la Habana Regatta is the first of its kind in more than half a century, a race that began in the early 1930s but ceased in 1959 when the Castro regime overthrew the country's government. "As power struggles and the wrestling for control in Cuba became more predominant, it was risky for sailors to race to Havana," a report on the race states. "Now in 2015, as our current (presidential) administration is attempting to normalize relations with Cuba, a new race will again head to Havana." Ethan is enthusiastic to weigh anchor. His grandfather Larry McAnally, an avid sailor who has participated in multiple sailing races, passed on news of the race, asking whether Ethan would like to come along. Ethan had been on two sailing trips with his grandfather before, but they typically stayed close to the coast. "I've never done sailing racing before. I know it's going to be more intense, not as much goofing around," Ethan says. James McAnally says they coordinated with St. Mary's, as Ethan will miss about two weeks of school, and made it work. "I was really excited," Ethan says. "I didn't think I could go, but my dad said yes. "When I heard it, I was freaking out. It was so exciting." Three generations of the family will make up three-quarters of the four-man crew. They plan to work in shifts as their 36-foot sailboat slices through the Gulf's waters. They will never be fully off the grid, however, connected to race officials through satellite phone, wireless radio and GPS for safety. "There's a lot of safety stuff you have to comply with as the boat captain," James says. "My dad had to do a lot of work to prepare for this. We've sort of been the lazy ones." Ethan has worked ahead in several of his classes to prepare for the event. And he won't necessarily get a break from homework on the water. To make up for missed class time, he hopes to prepare sailing-centered coursework to hand in for the time he'll be away. In physics, for example, that could include work on factoring vectors into sailing. For biology, it could possibly be marine life they encounter along the way. "We've been working with the school really closely. They've been really supportive," James says. Ethan and James plan to spend five days in Cuba after the race before sailing to Key West — where James was born — then flying home. They will fly to Florida Thursday. The gun is set to go off two days later. Both father and son are eager for their journey to begin. "I'm also really excited because it's just something new," Ethan says. "We don't know what we're getting into, but we're hoping for the best," James adds. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 28, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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